Review Request Email Templates That Actually Work: 12 Proven Examples

Most businesses send review request emails. Most of those emails get ignored.

The average review request email has a response rate somewhere between 5% and 10%. But businesses that nail the timing, tone, and structure routinely see 20% to 35% of customers actually leave a review. That gap isn't luck. It's craft.

The difference between an email that gets deleted and one that earns a five-star review comes down to a handful of specific choices: when you send it, how you frame the ask, and whether the customer feels like a person or a data point. This guide gives you 12 copy-pasteable templates built around those principles, plus the reasoning behind each one so you can adapt them to your situation.

The Short Answer

The best review request emails are short, personal, and sent at the right moment. They make the ask feel natural rather than transactional, include a direct link to your review platform, and never pressure or incentivize. The 12 templates below cover every major business scenario, from e-commerce to healthcare to B2B.

Why Most Review Request Emails Fail

Before the templates, it's worth understanding what goes wrong. Most businesses make the same handful of mistakes.

They send too late. A review request that arrives two weeks after a purchase lands when the customer has already moved on. The emotional peak of the experience has passed. Send within 24 to 72 hours of the interaction for most scenarios.

They make it about the business, not the customer. "We need your feedback to improve our services" is a guilt trip dressed up as a request. Customers don't owe you anything. Frame the ask around helping future customers who are in the same position they were in before they found you.

They bury the link. If a customer has to hunt for where to leave a review, they won't. The link should be the most prominent element in the email, ideally a button or a clearly labeled URL.

They're too long. A review request email is not a newsletter. Three to five sentences is enough. Anything more and you're asking the customer to do work before they've even agreed to help.

They ask for too much. "Please leave us a detailed review on Google, Yelp, and Facebook" is three asks disguised as one. Pick one platform. Make it easy.

They use generic subject lines. "We'd love your feedback!" is the email equivalent of a form letter. Personalized subject lines that reference the specific product or service get opened at significantly higher rates.

Understanding these failure modes is the foundation of asking customers for reviews effectively. Now let's look at what works.

12 Review Request Email Templates

Each template below includes the subject line, body copy, and notes on when and how to use it. Variables in [brackets] are placeholders you replace with real information.

Template 1: Post-Purchase (E-commerce)

Best timing: 3 to 5 days after delivery confirmation

Subject line options:

• Your [Product Name] - how's it going?
• Quick question about your order, [First Name]
• Did [Product Name] live up to expectations?

Subject: Your [Product Name] - how's it going?

Hi [First Name],

Your [Product Name] arrived a few days ago, and I wanted to check in.

If you've had a chance to try it, would you mind sharing your experience? It takes about 60 seconds and helps other shoppers make confident decisions.

[Leave a Review on Google]

Thanks for your order.

[Your Name]
[Business Name]

Notes: Keep it conversational. The phrase "helps other shoppers" shifts the frame from "do us a favor" to "help someone like you." Include a direct link to your Google Business Profile or preferred platform.

Template 2: Post-Service (Home Services)

Best timing: Within 24 hours of job completion

Subject line options:

• How did [Technician Name] do today?
• Your [Service Type] is complete - one quick ask
• [First Name], how was your experience with us?

Subject: How did [Technician Name] do today?

Hi [First Name],

[Technician Name] just wrapped up your [service type] at [address/property]. We hope everything looks exactly as expected.

If you're happy with the work, a quick review would mean a lot - both to [Technician Name] and to homeowners in [City] who are looking for someone they can trust.

[Share Your Experience Here]

If anything wasn't right, just reply to this email and we'll make it right.

[Your Name]
[Business Name]
[Phone Number]

Notes: Naming the technician makes this feel personal and gives the customer someone specific to praise. The fallback ("if anything wasn't right") shows confidence and reduces the fear of leaving a negative review.

Template 3: Post-Stay (Hotels)

Best timing: Morning after checkout, or within 12 hours of departure

Subject line options:

• We hope you enjoyed your stay, [First Name]
• Your stay at [Hotel Name] - a quick note
• [First Name], how was your room?

Subject: We hope you enjoyed your stay, [First Name]

Hi [First Name],

Thank you for staying with us at [Hotel Name]. We hope your time in [City] was everything you were hoping for.

If you have a moment, sharing your experience on [TripAdvisor/Google/Booking.com] helps other travelers find us - and helps us keep improving.

[Write a Review]

We'd love to welcome you back next time you're in [City].

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Hotel Name]

Notes: For hotels, the emotional window is short. Guests are often still traveling when this arrives, so keep it brief. Mentioning the city adds a personal touch that generic templates miss.

Template 4: Post-Appointment (Healthcare and Professional Services)

Best timing: 2 to 4 hours after the appointment ends

Subject line options:

• Following up on your appointment today
• [First Name], how was your visit?
• A quick note from [Practice/Firm Name]

Subject: Following up on your appointment today

Hi [First Name],

Thank you for coming in today. We hope your appointment with [Provider Name] was helpful.

If you're comfortable sharing your experience, a brief review on Google helps others in [City] find the right [doctor/advisor/specialist] for their needs.

[Leave a Google Review]

If you have any questions about today's visit, don't hesitate to reach out.

[Your Name]
[Practice/Firm Name]
[Phone Number]

Notes: Healthcare and professional services require extra care. Avoid anything that could feel like pressure. The phrase "if you're comfortable" acknowledges that some patients or clients may prefer privacy. Never ask for clinical details in a review.

Template 5: Follow-Up for Non-Responders

Best timing: 5 to 7 days after the first request, send once only

Subject line options:

• Still thinking about it? (no pressure)
• One more note, [First Name]
• Did my last email get buried?

Subject: Still thinking about it? (no pressure)

Hi [First Name],

I sent a note last week asking if you'd share your experience with [Business Name]. No worries if you missed it or didn't have time.

If you do have 60 seconds, your review would genuinely help us. Here's the link:

[Leave a Review]

Either way, thanks for being a customer. We appreciate you.

[Your Name]

Notes: One follow-up is acceptable. Two is pushy. The subject line "no pressure" disarms defensiveness. Keep the tone light and make it easy to ignore without guilt.

Template 6: After a Positive Support Interaction

Best timing: Within 1 to 2 hours of resolving the issue

Subject line options:

• Glad we could help, [First Name]
• Your issue is resolved - one quick ask
• [First Name], happy to help anytime

Subject: Glad we could help, [First Name]

Hi [First Name],

I'm glad we were able to sort out [brief description of issue] for you today.

If you found our support helpful, sharing that experience on Google helps other customers know what to expect when they need help.

[Share Your Experience]

We're always here if you need anything else.

[Support Rep Name]
[Business Name]

Notes: This is one of the highest-converting moments to ask for a review. The customer just had a positive emotional experience. Strike while the goodwill is fresh. Have the support rep send it personally, not from a generic address.

Template 7: After Resolving a Complaint

Best timing: 24 to 48 hours after resolution, only if the customer expressed satisfaction

Subject line options:

• Following up on your recent experience
• [First Name], we hope we made it right
• Checking in after last week

Subject: Following up on your recent experience

Hi [First Name],

I wanted to follow up and make sure everything is still going well after we resolved [issue] last week.

We know the experience didn't start perfectly, and we genuinely appreciate your patience. If you feel we made it right, we'd be honored if you shared that story - it helps others understand how we handle things when something goes wrong.

[Leave a Review]

Thank you again for giving us the chance to fix it.

[Your Name]
[Business Name]

Notes: This template is for customers who explicitly said they were satisfied after a complaint resolution. Never send it to someone who is still unhappy. A review from a recovered customer is often more powerful than one from someone who never had a problem.

Template 8: For B2B Clients

Best timing: After a project milestone, contract renewal, or quarterly check-in

Subject line options:

• [First Name], a quick favor after [Project Name]
• Would you be open to sharing your experience?
• [Company Name] x [Your Company] - a brief ask

Subject: [First Name], a quick favor after [Project Name]

Hi [First Name],

Now that [Project Name / milestone] is wrapped up, I wanted to reach out with a quick ask.

If you've been happy with the work, a brief review on Google or [LinkedIn/G2/Clutch] would be incredibly valuable for us. It helps other [industry] teams find the right partner when they're in the same position you were in before we started working together.

[Leave a Review on Google]
[Leave a Review on Clutch]

No pressure at all - I know your time is limited. But if you're willing, it would mean a lot.

[Your Name]
[Title]
[Company Name]

Notes: B2B clients respond better to a direct, professional ask from their account manager or project lead. Offering two platform options (Google and an industry-specific site like G2 or Clutch) gives them flexibility. Keep the tone peer-to-peer, not vendor-to-client.

Template 9: For Repeat Customers

Best timing: After their third or fourth purchase/visit

Subject line options:

• You've been with us for a while, [First Name]
• A note for our loyal customers
• [First Name], you know us better than most

Subject: You've been with us for a while, [First Name]

Hi [First Name],

You've been a customer of [Business Name] for [time period / X orders], and that means a lot to us.

Because you know us well, your perspective carries real weight. If you'd be willing to share your experience in a quick review, it would help new customers understand what to expect from us over the long term.

[Share Your Experience]

Thank you for sticking with us.

[Your Name]
[Business Name]

Notes: Repeat customers are your most credible reviewers. Acknowledging their loyalty before making the ask makes this feel earned rather than transactional. Pull the customer's order count or tenure from your CRM to personalize the "[time period / X orders]" variable.

Template 10: Short / SMS-Friendly Version

Best timing: Any scenario where email open rates are low or SMS is preferred

Hi [First Name], thanks for [visiting/your order/your appointment] today. If you have 60 seconds, a quick review would mean a lot: [Short Link]. Thanks, [Business Name]

Notes: Keep SMS under 160 characters if possible. Use a URL shortener to keep the link compact. Never send more than one SMS review request per transaction. This format also works well as a WhatsApp message for businesses that communicate with customers on that platform.

Template 11: Post-Delivery (Restaurants and Food Service)

Best timing: 1 to 2 hours after delivery or pickup order is marked complete

Subject line options:

• How was your [dish name] tonight?
• [First Name], how was your order?
• Hope dinner hit the spot

Subject: How was your [dish name] tonight?

Hi [First Name],

Thanks for ordering from [Restaurant Name] tonight. We hope your [dish name] was everything you were hoping for.

If you enjoyed it, a quick review on Google or Yelp helps other food lovers in [City] find us.

[Leave a Review on Google]

We'd love to see you again soon.

[Restaurant Name]

Notes: Referencing the specific dish ordered (pulled from the order data) makes this feel personal rather than automated. For restaurants, timing is critical - send while the meal is still fresh in memory.

Template 12: Subject Line Variations (Swipe File)

Sometimes the subject line is the only thing standing between your email and the trash folder. Here are 15 subject lines you can test across any of the templates above:

1. [First Name], how did we do?
2. Quick question about your [product/visit/order]
3. 60 seconds to help someone like you
4. Your experience matters (really)
5. Did we earn 5 stars?
6. How was [Technician/Server/Provider Name]?
7. One thing we'd love to know
8. [First Name], your opinion is worth something
9. We hope we got it right
10. A note from [Your Name] at [Business Name]
11. How's your [product] treating you?
12. Still happy with your [service/purchase]?
13. [First Name] - a 60-second ask
14. We'd love to hear from you (no, really)
15. Your review could help someone make a great decision

Cross-Industry Examples in Practice

Scenario 1: A Boutique Hotel in Amsterdam

A 40-room boutique hotel was getting fewer than 10 TripAdvisor reviews per month despite strong occupancy. They switched from a generic "please review us" email to Template 3, personalized with the guest's name, their room type, and a reference to a specific amenity they used (pulled from the property management system).

Result: Review volume tripled within 60 days. The key change was specificity. "How was your stay in our Canal View Suite?" outperformed "How was your stay?" by a wide margin.

Scenario 2: A Plumbing Company in Manchester

A family-run plumbing business was relying on word of mouth and had only 23 Google reviews after eight years in business. They implemented Template 2, sending it automatically via their job management software within two hours of job completion, with the technician's name pre-filled.

Within three months, they had 140 reviews and a 4.8-star average. The technician name variable was the detail that made customers feel seen rather than processed.

Scenario 3: A SaaS Company Targeting SMBs

A B2B software company was struggling to build their G2 profile. Their account managers started using Template 8 after quarterly business reviews, framing the ask around helping other SMBs in the same industry find the right tool.

The peer-to-peer framing ("helps other [industry] teams find the right partner") resonated strongly. Their G2 review count grew from 12 to 89 in six months, which directly improved their category ranking.

For more on building a review strategy that compounds over time, see our guide on how to ask customers for reviews.

Template Selection Guide

Use this table to pick the right template for your situation:

What NOT to Include in Any Template

A few things that will hurt your review strategy, regardless of how good the template is:

• Incentives. Offering discounts, free products, or any reward in exchange for a review violates Google's policies and Yelp's terms of service. It also attracts biased reviews that erode trust.
• Review gating. Sending the review link only to customers you think will leave a positive review is against Google's guidelines and creates a misleading picture of your business.
• Guilt trips. "We work really hard and reviews help us survive" puts emotional pressure on the customer. It might work once, but it damages the relationship.
• Multiple platform asks. Asking for reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook in the same email is overwhelming. Pick one.
• Long preambles. Get to the ask within the first two sentences. Customers know what a review request email is.

Timing and Personalization Tips

Send timing by industry:

• E-commerce: 3-5 days after delivery (not immediately after purchase)
• Restaurants: 1-2 hours after the meal
• Hotels: Morning after checkout
• Home services: Same day as service completion
• Healthcare: 2-4 hours post-appointment
• B2B: After a milestone, not randomly

Personalization variables that move the needle:

• First name (table stakes)
• Specific product, dish, or service received
• Name of the person who served them
• City or neighborhood reference
• Order number or visit date (for context, not tracking)

Mobile optimization checklist:

• Subject line under 50 characters
• Email body under 150 words
• CTA button at least 44px tall
• Single-column layout
• Link text that's easy to tap

The best time to send: Tuesday through Thursday, between 10am and 2pm in the recipient's local timezone, tends to produce the highest open rates for transactional emails. Avoid Monday mornings and Friday afternoons.

Understanding why online reviews matter is the foundation for building a consistent review acquisition strategy. These templates are the execution layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many review request emails should I send per customer? Send one initial request and one follow-up if there's no response. Two emails total, maximum. Sending more than that crosses into harassment territory and can damage your relationship with the customer.

Should I ask for reviews on Google or another platform? Google is the highest-priority platform for most local businesses because Google reviews directly influence search rankings and appear prominently in search results. For e-commerce, product-specific platforms like Trustpilot or Amazon may be more relevant. For B2B, G2 or Clutch carry more weight. Pick the platform where your target customers are most likely to look before making a decision.

Is it okay to ask unhappy customers for reviews? Only if you've resolved their issue and they've expressed satisfaction. Never send a review request to a customer who is still unhappy. If you're not sure, err on the side of not sending. A negative review from a still-frustrated customer is worse than no review at all.

What's the best subject line for a review request email? Personalized subject lines that reference the specific product, service, or person involved consistently outperform generic ones. "How was your stay in Room 204?" beats "We'd love your feedback!" every time. Test two or three variations and track open rates to find what works for your audience.

Can I ask for reviews on social media instead of email? Yes, but email tends to convert better because it's a direct, private channel. Social media posts asking for reviews can feel performative and often get ignored. A direct email to a specific customer who just had an experience with you is far more effective.

How do I handle a negative review that comes in after sending a request? Respond promptly, professionally, and without defensiveness. Acknowledge the issue, apologize if appropriate, and offer to resolve it offline. A well-handled negative review can actually build trust with prospective customers. See our guide on responding to negative reviews for specific response templates.

Should I use my personal name or the business name as the sender? Personal names get higher open rates. "Sarah from Coastal Plumbing" outperforms "Coastal Plumbing" as a sender name. If you're a solo operator or small team, use your own name. For larger businesses, use the name of the person who had the most direct contact with the customer.

Putting It All Together

The templates above work because they're built on a simple principle: make it easy for a happy customer to do something they already want to do.

Most satisfied customers don't leave reviews because no one asks, or because the ask feels like a chore. A well-timed, specific, low-friction email removes both barriers.

Start with one template that fits your most common customer interaction. Send it consistently for 30 days. Track your review volume and response rate. Then test a subject line variation or adjust the timing. Small improvements compound quickly.

If you want to track which templates are driving the most reviews and monitor your ratings across platforms in one place, Reputic makes that straightforward. But the templates above will work regardless of what tools you use.

The most important thing is to start asking. Most of your happy customers are willing to help. They just need a reason to act, and a link to make it easy.

For a deeper look at building a complete review acquisition strategy, read our guide on how to ask customers for reviews.